Formula 1 pre-season testing: Lewis Hamilton sets fastest time of the week

Lewis Hamilton ended the first pre-season test fastest — but his Mercedes team-mate George Russell warned not to take the lap times too seriously.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton set his best time late on the final day of the three-day stint in Barcelona — supplanting Russell, who had set the pace in the morning session.

Hamilton and Russell headed Red Bull duo Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.

Russell said: «Lap time-wise, I don't think it's representative at all.»

He added that Ferrari and McLaren were «looking incredibly strong».

«Even though we are top of the timesheets, I wouldn't read too much into it,» said Russell.

«We have some improvements to make, as we're not fully happy with the balance of the car and the limitations we have currently. But we have a good indication of the direction we need to go in.»

Hamilton was 0.095 seconds quicker than Russell on the same tyres — the softest compound available — and only 0.003secs slower than that, and also faster than Russell, using tyres one grade harder, and therefore theoretically slower.

Perez was 0.418secs behind Hamilton's best on the same type of tyre, while Verstappen was 0.618secs off the pace on tyres two grades harder than the man he beat to last year's title in the controversial decider in Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton said: «It's been an interesting few days. It's not been the easiest or smoothest running. We have had some obstacles to overcome.

»We would always want more laps but I am happy with today — we have had 100 laps, which for a half-day wasn't too bad."

Asked whether he had an idea where the team were in terms of competitiveness, Hamilton said: «You never do on the first week. We have no idea where we are.»

Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel was fifth fastest, on the